Horse Remi had to be put down after he was badly injured trying to push through a wire fence on Guy Fawkes' night. Photo composite / NZME
Warning: Graphic image
Fireworks could be banned on Tauranga beaches, along with other public city spaces such as roads and reserves.
But a woman whose horse had to be put down after a fireworks incident believes the move would not significantly reduce fireworks harm, and the council should lobby for a wider ban.
“Fireworks are like firearms in the wrong hands; they are so dangerous,” said Waitao, Western Bay of Plenty resident, Donna Matheson.
Tauranga City councillors on Tuesday unanimously agreed for staff to draft an amendment to the Street Use and Public Places Bylaw, banning the public from lighting fireworks in council-owned and -controlled places.
Some supported the move despite concerns it might only shift the harm to private spaces.
Council regulatory and community services general manager, Sarah Omundsen, told the meeting that central government regulated fireworks sales, which meant the council could not ban them on private property.
It also did not have responsibility for fire bans or permits.
The council could, however, regulate fireworks use on council-owned or controlled land such as roads, beaches and reserves.
This was backed by the SPCA, whose national researcher Jessica Walker addressed the meeting.
She said the council should regulate fireworks use in public environments to address safety and animal welfare concerns.
In Auckland, fireworks had been banned from public places, unless written approval was obtained, since 2013.
“Recent incidents in Tauranga demonstrate a similar need for stronger protections,” she said.
In November, the council was forced to close Mauao for several nights due to people setting off fireworks, despite a permanent fire ban and the maunga’s history of fire damage.
Walker said the SPCA supported properly organised and notified professional public fireworks displays continuing.
Matheson had to put down her horse, Remi, on November 6, 2024, after he was spooked by Guy Fawkes fireworks and was badly injured trying to escape through a wire fence.
Her horse Alex was also injured in a fireworks incident, but survived. She said it cost her $15,000 in vet bills and $20,000 in fence repairs, and Alex could no longer enjoy a “full life”.
She said Tauranga’s proposed ban looked good on paper, but believed it was “not realistic”.
The fireworks that spooked Remi were set off on the side of a country road.
“People are not going to pay any attention to a few rules and regulations when all they have to do is take one step away and put it over someone’s fence on private property.
“No one’s coming up rural roads to police it.”
Matheson said she was not against the proposal but wanted the council to put its energy into lobbying central government to ban fireworks, apart from organised public displays.
The incidents involving her horses were traumatic, and she still struggled to walk past the area where Remi died.
“When you close your eyes, it takes you there suddenly, and it’s a lot.”
Matheson’s friend, Bethlehem resident Nadeen Mitchell, created a public survey to document fireworks-related harm to people, animals, property and the environment nationwide in January last year.
Mitchell said one finding from the 358 responses (73 from the Bay of Plenty) was that fireworks harm happened year-round, not just at Guy Fawkes or New Year.
In about 60% of cases, the fireworks were set off on private land.
Mitchell said there were reports of 166 adults and 70 children harmed, and 20 reports of deliberate harm to an animal or human.
One comment said fireworks started a fire that destroyed their home; another said their son lost a thumb and forefinger when a teen combined fireworks into a pipe for “a bigger bang” and it went off prematurely.
Many reported their animals – ranging from birds and cats to sheep and horses – had received injuries, some life-threatening, or gone missing after bolting to escape fireworks.
Some died from stress-induced heart attacks, including a retired racing greyhound and a guinea pig. A $15,000 breeding-stock horse broke its neck trying to flee.
Comments talked about using anxiety medications, tranquilisation and sedation to ease animals’ fireworks distress.
Many called for fireworks to be limited to one night a year, to make it manageable to prepare animals.
Others wanted a full ban on public sales, as people failed to follow the rules despite the limitations already in place.
The SPCA recently submitted to Parliament’s petitions select committee last year in support of petitions to ban the private sale and use of fireworks.
Its submission cited 2022 and 2023 surveys that found a majority of New Zealanders would support a ban on private fireworks.
It also noted private sales were already banned in most Australian states, and fireworks use was more restricted in many US states than in New Zealand.
New Zealand First introduced a member’s bill in November to ban the public sale and use of fireworks across New Zealand.
The Fireworks Prohibition Legislation Bill would stop the retail sale, manufacture and importation of fireworks for public use, but allow approved public displays to continue.
The bill has yet to be drawn for debate.
Regulating fireworks was not included in the council’s earlier draft bylaw consultation, so it was expected to conduct a separate consultation process.
Council staff recommended this happen in the first quarter of the new financial year, to enable it to come into force before November.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Ayla Yeoman is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based in Tauranga. She holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in communications, politics and international relations from the University of Auckland, and has been a journalist since 2022.